[mcv]

  > When a field unionized, the people near the top typically stand to lose the most,
  > even if everyone as a whole are more enriched.

Not necessarily. From what I understand, some pilot unions do the exact opposite.

[rmdashrfstar]

Care to explain?

[mcv]

From what I've read, older, experienced pilots get the safest, convenient, day-time routes and the best pay, while inexperienced pilots get the harder routes with little sleep and less pay. (Some of?) their unions represent mostly the interests of the older, experienced pilots and not so much the younger ones.